title: Reduction of heart failure rehospitalization using a weight management education intervention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous investigators have demonstrated that patient adherence to optimal weight monitoring resulted in fewer heart failure (HF)-related rehospitalizations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether a weight management (WM) intervention can improve patients' WM ability and cardiac function and reduce HF-related rehospitalizations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Heart failure patients were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 32) or a control group (n = 34). The intervention group received the WM intervention, including education about regular daily weight monitoring and coping skills when detecting sudden weight gain, with a WM booklet and scheduled telephone visits. Patients' WM ability was measured by the Weight Management Questionnaire (WMQ). We compared scores on the WMQ, New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, and HF-related rehospitalizations between the 2 groups at enrollment and at 6 months. We also analyzed the association of adherence to weight monitoring and rehospitalization in the intervention group during the 6-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in weight monitoring adherence, WM ability, and NYHA classification between the 2 groups at baseline. At 6 months, scores on all 4 subscales of the WMQ significantly increased within the intervention group, and the WM-practice subscale significantly improved within the control group. Adherence to weight monitoring was significantly improved in the intervention group compared with the control group (81.25% vs 11.76%; P < .01). At 6 months, there was a significant improvement in NYHA class in the intervention group compared with the control group (P = .03). Rehospitalizations related to HF were also fewer in the intervention group (0.28 ± 0.63 vs 0.79 ± 1.18; P = .03) during the follow-up duration. In the intervention group, those who weighed themselves regularly reported less HF-related rehospitalizations than did those who did not (0.23 ± 0.43 vs 0.50 ± 1.23; P = .62).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that the WM intervention had a positive impact on patients' adherence to weight monitoring, WM ability, and NYHA classification and reduced HF-related rehospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Xiao-Hua Wang, MN, RN Associate Professor and Nurse-in-Charge, Cardiovascular Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China. Jing-Bo Qiu, MM, RN Nurse, The International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital of China Welfare Institute, Shanghai. Yang Ju, BSM, RN Student, School of Nursing, Soochow University, Suzhou, China. Guo-Chong Chen, MPH Public Health Physician, Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China. Jun-Hua Yang, MM Director and Chief Physician, Cardiovascular Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China. Jian-Hong Pang, RN Deputy Director and Nurse-in-Charge, Nursing Department, Jiangsu Shengze Hospital, Suzhou, China. Xin Zhao, MD Professor, Cardiovascular Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing-Bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Guo-Chong
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jun-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jian-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010359:Patient Readmission; D012648:Self Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss